A rural Hutchinson couple were found dead in their home Sunday night after the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an apparent homicide and suicide.

The couple were identified as Donald Francis Czeck, 41, and Katrin Rose Czeck, 35. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The couple lived at 20152 Lace Ave., about seven miles east-northeast of Hutchinson and two miles west of Silver Lake. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the home at 7:21 p.m. Authorities from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension arrived shortly after 10 p.m.

An initial investigation showed that Katrin Czeck died as a result of multiple stab wounds. Donald Czeck died as a result of injuries “consistent with a self-inflicted wound,” according to the sheriff’s office.

A neighbor said the couple had three children: two sons, about ages 11 and 20, and a daughter, 8. The family had lived at the home for a couple years, and were members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Silver Lake.

The incident remains under investigation. Other agencies assisting at the scene include the Minnesota State Patrol, the Silver Lake Police Department and the Hutchinson Ambulance Service.

Jo Piehl, executive director of McLeod Alliance for Victims of Domestic Violence, said she could not comment on the incident, but did say that the event is an opportunity to teach the community about domestic violence.

“This a tragedy and there is a free and confidential help available,” Piehl said. “… We want to keep this kind of thing from happening again.”

(Doug Hanneman is the editor at the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com.)